Canon 5DS vs Leica M8

The Canon EOS 5DS and the Leica M8 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively,
in February 2015 and September 2006. The 5DS is a DSLR, while the M8 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera. The cameras are based on a full frame (5DS) and an APS-H (M8) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 50.3 megapixels, whereas the Leica provides 10.4 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 5DS and the
Leica M8? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors,
their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Canon 5DS vs Leica M8

The physical size and weight of the Canon 5DS and the Leica M8 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The M8 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the 5DS is
only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Leica M8 is considerably smaller (37 percent) than the Canon 5DS. Moreover, the M8 is substantially lighter (36 percent) than the 5DS. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 5DS is splash and dust resistant,
while the M8 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist.
You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (5DS) and the Leica M Lens Catalog (M8).

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left
arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and
make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The 5DS was launched at a markedly lower price (by 33 percent) than the M8, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Canon 5DS vs Leica M8

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 5DS features a full frame sensor and the Leica M8
an APS-H sensor. The sensor area in the M8 is 44 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 1.3. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 50.3MP, the 5DS offers a higher
resolution than the M8 (10.4MP), but the 5DS has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of
4.14μm versus 6.84μm for the M8). However, the 5DS is a much more recent model (by 8 years and 4 months) than the M8, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the M8 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The Canon EOS 5DS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 50-12800.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Leica M8 are ISO 160 to ISO 2500 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under review, the 5DS provides substantially higher image quality than the M8, with an overall score that is 28 points higher. This advantage is based on 3.6 bits higher color depth, 1.1 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1.8 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Canon 5DS»

Full Frame

50.3

8688

5792

1080/30p

24.7

12.4

2381

87

Canon 5DS

Leica M8«

APS-H

10.4

3936

2630

-

21.1

11.3

663

59

Leica M8

Canon 1D X Mark II«»

Full Frame

20.0

5472

3648

4K/60p

24.1

13.5

3207

88

Canon 1D X Mark II

Canon 5D Mark IV«»

Full Frame

30.1

6720

4480

4K/30p

24.8

13.6

2995

91

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5DS R«»

Full Frame

50.3

8688

5792

1080/30p

24.6

12.4

2308

86

Canon 5DS R

Canon 5D Mark III«»

Full Frame

22.1

5760

3840

1080/30p

24.0

11.7

2293

81

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D«»

Full Frame

20.0

5472

3648

1080/30p

23.8

12.1

2340

82

Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II«»

Full Frame

21.0

5616

3744

1080/30p

23.7

11.9

1815

79

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon XTi«»

APS-C

10.1

3888

2592

-

22.1

11.0

664

62

Canon XTi

Canon 5D«»

Full Frame

12.7

4368

2912

-

22.9

11.1

1368

71

Canon 5D

Leica M10«»

Full Frame

23.8

5952

3992

-

24.4

13.2

2133

86

Leica M10

Leica M9«»

Full Frame

18.1

5212

3472

-

22.5

11.7

884

69

Leica M9

Nikon D850«»

Full Frame

45.4

8256

5504

4K/30p

26.4

14.8

2660

100

Nikon D850

Nikon D810«»

Full Frame

36.2

7360

4912

1080/60p

25.7

14.8

2853

97

Nikon D810

Nikon D80«»

APS-C

10.0

3872

2592

-

22.1

11.2

524

61

Nikon D80

Panasonic L10«»

Four Thirds

10.0

3648

2736

-

21.3

10.8

429

55

Panasonic L10

Sony A99 II«»

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

25.4

13.4

2317

92

Sony A99 II

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The 5DS indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the M8 does not. The highest resolution format that the 5DS can use is 1080/30p.

Feature comparison: Canon 5DS vs Leica M8

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 5DS and the M8 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder.
The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 5DS and Leica M8 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Mech Shutter Speed

Shutter Flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Canon 5DS»

optical

Y

3.2

1040

fixed

n

1/8000s

5.0

n

n

Canon 5DS

Leica M8«

optical

n

2.5

230

fixed

n

1/8000s

2.0

n

n

Leica M8

Canon 1D X Mark II«»

optical

Y

3.2

1620

fixed

Y

1/8000s

16.0

n

n

Canon 1D X Mark II

Canon 5D Mark IV«»

optical

Y

3.2

1620

fixed

Y

1/8000s

7.0

n

n

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5DS R«»

optical

Y

3.2

1040

fixed

n

1/8000s

5.0

n

n

Canon 5DS R

Canon 5D Mark III«»

optical

Y

3.2

1040

fixed

n

1/8000s

6.0

n

n

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D«»

optical

Y

3.0

1040

fixed

n

1/4000s

4.5

n

n

Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II«»

optical

Y

3.0

920

fixed

n

1/8000s

3.9

n

n

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon XTi«»

optical

n

2.5

230

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.0

Y

n

Canon XTi

Canon 5D«»

optical

Y

2.5

230

fixed

n

1/8000s

3.0

n

n

Canon 5D

Leica M10«»

optical

n

3.0

1037

fixed

n

1/4000s

5.0

n

n

Leica M10

Leica M9«»

optical

n

2.5

230

fixed

n

1/4000s

2.0

n

n

Leica M9

Nikon D850«»

optical

Y

3.2

2359

tilting

Y

1/8000s

9.0

n

n

Nikon D850

Nikon D810«»

optical

Y

3.2

1229

fixed

n

1/8000s

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D810

Nikon D80«»

optical

n

2.5

230

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.0

Y

n

Nikon D80

Panasonic L10«»

optical

n

2.5

207

swivel

n

1/4000s

3.0

Y

n

Panasonic L10

Sony A99 II«»

2400

Y

3.0

1229

full-flex

n

1/8000s

12.0

n

Y

Sony A99 II

One feature that is present on the 5DS, but is missing on the M8 is a top-level LCD.
While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The Canon 5DS has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to
capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 5DS writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDXC cards, while the M8 uses SDXC cards. The 5DS features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the M8
only has one slot. The 5DS supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the M8 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison: Canon 5DS vs Leica M8

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 5DS and Leica M8 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Canon 5DS»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 5DS

Leica M8«

Y

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

Leica M8

Canon 1D X Mark II«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 1D X Mark II

Canon 5D Mark IV«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

Y

-

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5DS R«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 5DS R

Canon 5D Mark III«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

-

Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon XTi«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

Canon XTi

Canon 5D«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 5D

Leica M10«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

-

Y

-

-

Leica M10

Leica M9«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

Leica M9

Nikon D850«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

Y

Y

Nikon D850

Nikon D810«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

-

-

Nikon D810

Nikon D80«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

Nikon D80

Panasonic L10«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

Panasonic L10

Sony A99 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony A99 II

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon 5DS (unlike the M8) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights
can be controlled by the camera.

The 5DS is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon.
In contrast, the M8 has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the M8 was succeeded by the Leica M9. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official
Canon and Leica websites.

Review summary: Canon 5DS vs Leica M8

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 5DS and the Leica M8? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.

Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.

Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.

More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (33 percent cheaper at launch).

More modern: Reflects 8 years and 4 months of technical progress since the M8 launch.

Reasons to prefer the Leica M8:

Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.

More compact: Is smaller (139x80mm vs 152x116mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.

Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 339g or 36 percent) and is thus easier to take along.

More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale value.

More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in September 2006).

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the 5DS is the clear winner of the match-up (19 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

5DS 19:05 M8

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 5DS and the Leica M8 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best DSLR Camera and listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 5DS and the M8 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews: Canon 5DS vs Leica M8

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.